What has research shown about the use of EHR in terms of medical errors?

Research has shown that the use of Electronic Health Records (EHR) can lead to a decrease in medical errors. This improvement stems from several key factors inherent in EHR systems.

Firstly, EHR systems enhance the accessibility of patient information, allowing healthcare providers to quickly obtain and review critical health data, medication histories, and allergies at the point of care. This immediate access helps in making informed decisions, thus reducing the chances of errors that may arise from incomplete or miscommunicated information.

Secondly, EHRs have built-in clinical decision support tools that can alert providers about potential medication interactions, allergies, or deviations from clinical guidelines. These alerts serve as safeguards that prompt clinicians to re-evaluate their decisions, potentially avoiding errors that could harm patients.

Moreover, the standardized structure of EHRs minimizes variability in documentation and communication, which can lead to misunderstandings in traditional paper-based systems. By promoting clarity and consistency, EHRs help ensure that all healthcare team members have a shared understanding of a patient's care plan.

Additionally, EHRs facilitate better coordination of care among different healthcare providers. By allowing for seamless sharing of information, they help in tracking patient outcomes and streamline referral processes, which further diminishes the likelihood of errors that could occur during